The Basque government’s Minister of Tourism, Trade and Consumption has indicated that expectations are very positive thanks, he said, “for the great work done during the pandemic”. In this sense, it has appreciated support to the sector, “like ERTES”, by the institutions.
Tourism in the Basque Country has exceeded forecasts and, in the absence of data for June and July, the balance for 2022 is “very positive”. It has been declared by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Consumption of the Basque Government, Javier Hurtadowhich has emphasized the recovery of international tourism, confirming the data from EITB Data’s study on this sector.
Interviewed on Radio Euskadi’s “Boulevard” program, the councilor emphasized that the summer will be “comparable to or greater than 2019” and emphasized the importance of tourism “not only from an economic point of view, but also from a cultural and social cohesion”. In the CAV, tourism accounts for 6.4% of GDP with over 100,000 direct jobs. “We can say that the summer in the Basque Country will exceed tourist forecasts. We have comparable and even higher figures than 2019 in terms of arrivals, overnight stays and average rates,” he indicated.
According to the confidential advisor, this good data is “in large part” due to the “great work” done during the pandemic by both the institutions, “with the ERTES and other complements”, and by the workers in the sector . “Aid to the industry during the pandemic should be valued. We were the first community to put together a dedicated aid plan and that effort is paying off,” he said.
The Basque government, he stressed, “continues to advocate a sustainable tourism model”. In this sense, he acknowledged that there have been “specific cases of overpopulation, such as that of Gaztelugatxe”, but “in Euskadi we are looking for a balanced tourism model”. He recalled that “40% of visitors to the Basque Country arrive outside the period of July and August” and “the aim of the Basque government is to distribute this flow over all areas”.
Asked about the lack of professionals in the hospitality industry and the impact this could have on the quality of tourism, Hurtado stressed that “a quality service needs quality employment”, so “we need to keep working so that unions and employers update their agreements” . As he said, “models and dynamics have to evolve.”
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
